A novel conversation
With Brexit dominating the conversation on social media, a debate among historians regarding medieval fiction was a pleasant diversion. ANNA WHITELOCK reveals more
Discussions among historians on Twitter have become intensely political in recent weeks, with those on either side of the Brexit divide searching for past analogies for current affairs.
It was therefore a welcome relief when a question tweeted by the University of Sussex Centre for Early Modern and Medieval Studies (@SussexCEMMS) led to an entirely different debate: “What is the most accomplished piece of historical fiction set in the medieval or early modern period: [the works of] Hilary Mantel, Ken Follett, Philippa Gregory, or perhaps someone else?”
For possibly the first time on Twitter all month, there was immediate agreement, with John Gallagher (@earlymodernjohn) asking: “What about Ali Smith’s How to Be Both?”. Mark Williams (@ExileonWainSt) strongly agreed – also helpfully putting forward the Italian Renaissance novels of Sarah Dunant.
But the warm words weren’t to last, with James Alexander Cameron (@DrJACameron) insisting: “Ken Follett is an atrocious author who just writes soap opera garbage,” before pouring scorn on his Kingsbridge series. Charlotte Potter (@dasLeserattchen) pushed back, saying she was prepared to “stick up” for Follett.
Of course, historians always like to clarify the terms of the debate. Peter Kirwan (@DrPeteKirwan) tweeted to say: “Depends what you mean by ‘accomplished’, but Dorothy Dunnett’s King Hereafter is probably the most meticulously researched (and generally fabulous) historical novel I’ve read.”
Medieval Medicine (@WinstonEBlack) also pondered the wording of the question: “I have to wonder what ‘accomplished’ means – accurate, engaging, stimulating toward further research?” Thankfully, @SussexCEMMS was able to provide clarification: “I think I meant accuracy, but overridingly, something that is just a damn good read!”
It didn’t take long for politics to return to the table, though. Madeline Odent (@oldenoughtosay) assumed that an innocent nod from John Jenkins (@Armentarius) for Hilda Prescott’s The Man on a Donkey – a novel about the upheaval following Henry VIII’s break with Rome – was a comment on the state of parliament. A subtle indication, perhaps, of the extent to which Brexit is continuing to dominate discussions between historians on social media.